No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 164

The next morning, Eleanor dropped Evelyn off at her in-laws' house. Gina had been missing her granddaughter and greeted them at the door.

"Mom, I'll have to trouble you to look after Evelyn for a few days," Eleanor said.

Although Gina's opinion of Eleanor had improved a little, she still wasn't fond of her temperament.

"I'm flying out of the country on Friday," Gina replied briskly. "Come by Thursday night to pick her up."

Eleanor hesitated. "Is Grandma traveling with you too?"

"No, she'll stay here. Serena will take care of her, but if you have time, you should come by and keep her company."

"Of course," Eleanor agreed with a nod.

Ten o'clock, late morning.

Eleanor was meeting with Joy at a quiet café to discuss the divorce. As they spoke, the entrance bell chimed, and a sharply dressed man strode inside. He looked to be twenty-eight or twenty-nine, tall—well over six feet—wearing a tailored suit that radiated confidence and competence.

"My mentor, Frazier Jeffries," Joy said, standing to introduce him.

"And my friend, Eleanor," she added.

Eleanor and Frazier exchanged a firm handshake before taking their seats.

Without wasting time, Frazier switched to business mode. He calmly analyzed Eleanor's situation: even if she filed for divorce and was willing to leave with nothing, the progress would still depend on Ian's cooperation and how quickly he responded.

"Filing now is definitely in your favor for securing custody," he explained. "Your daughter's under five—courts nearly always lean toward granting mothers custody with such young children."

Eleanor nodded. "Attorney Jeffries, I'm counting on you to help me win this case," she said earnestly.

"You're Joy's friend, so I'll do my best," Frazier replied, flashing a dazzling smile.

He went on, "I've also heard of you, Miss Sutton—the first to develop the breakthrough medication, and the key witness in the Marlowe Village case. The medical field's young prodigy—I'm truly impressed."

Eleanor gave a modest smile. "You flatter me."

Eleanor nodded. She was more than ready for a long battle.

———

Goodwin & Co.

As the workday neared its end, Ian's assistant Larry appeared at the door. "Mr. Goodwin, Attorney Jeffries is here for your five o'clock meeting."

Ian glanced at his watch. "Show him in."

He'd heard of Frazier—his reputation in legal circles was impressive. Ian assumed he was here to interview for a position; after all, his legal department was always on the lookout for top talent.

Frazier entered, every inch the consummate professional. He glanced at the tall, striking man seated on the sofa—Ian's presence was unmistakable.

"Mr. Goodwin," Frazier greeted politely, "good afternoon."